第22部分(第1/7 頁)

categorizing　the　parts　into　gross；　disgusting；　and

revolting。

………　Page　66………

Hanging　near　her　didn't　stop　the　Baker　boys　from　shoving　crackers　in　whole；　though。　Man；　I

was　just　waiting　for　them　to　wrap　themselves　around

a　table　leg　and　flex。

Juli；　her　dad；　and　my　grandfather　were　off　to　the　side　talking　nonstop　about　something；　and

my　dad　was　over　with　Mrs。　Baker　looking　about　as

stupid　as　I　felt；　standing　by　myself　talking　to　no　one。

My　mom　flutters　over　to　me　and　says；　“You　doing　okay；　honey？”

“Yeah；”　I　tell　her；　but　she　forces　me　over　to　where　Granddad　is　anyway。　“Go　on；　go　on；”　she

whispers。　“Dinner　will　be　ready　in　a　minute。”

So　I　stand　there　and　the　group　of　them　opens　up；　but　it's　more　like　a　reflex　than　anything。　No

one　says　a　word　to　me。　They　just　keep　right　on

talking　about　perpetual　motion。

Perpetual　motion。

My　friend；　I　didn't　even　know　what　perpetual　motion　was。　They　were　talking　closed　systems；

open　systems；　resistance；　energy　source；

magism　…　it　was　like　joining　a　discussion　in　a　different　language。　And　Juli；　Juli　was

saying　stuff　like；　“Well；　what　if　you　put　the　mags　back　to

back　—　reversed　the　polarity？”　like　she　really　understood　what　they　were　talking　about。　Then

my　granddad　and　her　dad　would　explain　why　her　idea

wouldn't　work；　but　all　that　did　was　make　Juli　ask　another　question。

I　was　pletely　lost。　And　even　though　I　was　pretending　to　follow　along　with　what　they　were

saying；　what　I　was　really　doing　was　trying　not　to　stare

at　Juli。

When　my　mom　called　us　for　dinner；　I　did　my　best　to　pull　Juli　aside　and　apologize　to　her；　but

she　gave　me　the　cold　shoulder；　and　who　c